Jesus proclaimed the prophetic message of Isaiah at his own inauguration, just as the prophets of our day bravely rebuke those in power, calling for grace and love rather than judgment and wrath.

The kingdom of God that Jesus proclaimed was so scandalously gracious the Jews responded with violence. Jesus’ good news was for all the people they hated, all the wrong people. They wanted him to die for offending them. Their understanding of the Scriptures highlighted vengeance and not grace, dogma rather than mercy.